Swamp Notes

One year since ‘liberation day’

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 18:00:00 GMT

A year ago this week, US President Donald Trump rocked the world with his so-called liberation day announcement. America’s tariff regime affected all aspects of life from the global economy to the day-to-day of average business owners. As part of a special FT News Briefing series, the FT’s US economics editor Claire Jones explains what changed, and what didn’t, because of those tariffs.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Listen to the rest of the FT News Briefing’s Liberation Day series

Swamp Notes is hosted by Marc Filippino and produced by Henry Larson. This week’s show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz and the FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How markets may be affecting US military action in Iran

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 20:41:31 GMT

It’s hard to square US President Donald Trump’s circle. Earlier this week, he said his administration was speaking with Iranian officials. Stocks shot up, oil crashed. Then, Iran denied that talks were ongoing and the US ordered more troops to the Gulf. The FT’s foreign affairs correspondent Abigail Hauslohner and markets columnist Katie Martin explain the role markets play in why Trump’s messaging doesn’t align with his actions.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Iran’s military leaders dismiss Donald Trump’s deal claims

Markets were not made for Trump’s never-ending ping-pong

Swamp Notes is hosted by Marc Filippino and produced by Henry Larson. This week’s show was mixed by Kent Militzer. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz and the FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts.

CREDIT: NBC News, CBS News

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The AI revolt in Maga-land

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 19:53:09 GMT

When it comes to data centres, the Trump administration has been urging AI companies to “build, baby, build”. But the White House’s agenda is facing resistance from an unlikely place: the very states that won Donald Trump the presidency.

The FT’s Joe Miller went on a road trip to Missouri to talk to some AI sceptics.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Donald Trump’s AI push fuels revolt in Maga heartlands

Swamp Notes is hosted by Marc Filippino, and produced by Henry Larson and Sonja Hutson. This week’s show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Bethlehem Project: The housing domino effect

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 05:00:00 GMT

The US housing market is in a crunch. It’s more unaffordable than ever before to buy a home, and the average age for first-time buyers across the country is now 40, according to the National Association of Realtors. Not only is that making it harder for people to own property, it’s also putting pressure on the rental market.

Host Sonja Hutson travels to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to get a better picture of how we got here, and how residents are dealing with the high cost of shelter.

Mentioned in this podcast:

‘We need that help’: US cities struggle with housing affordability crisis

The Bethlehem Project is hosted and produced by Sonja Hutson and edited by Marc Filippino. Fact checking by Henry Larson. The show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s global head of audio. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Introducing Untold: Opus Dei

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Introducing Opus Dei, a new season of Untold from the Financial Times. Host Antonia Cundy uncovers the cultural and political influence of a controversial Catholic organisation in America. Opus Dei exists to help people get closer to God, but some members say they found other agendas – and unexpected harm – entangled in that spiritual mission. The first episode of Untold: Opus Dei launches March 25.

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The economic fallout of the Iran war

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 19:12:03 GMT

The US and Israeli war with Iran has expanded across the Gulf. Iran has effectively shuttered the Strait of Hormuz, sending the prices of oil and liquefied natural gas way up. The economic realities of the conflict could pose a problem for President Donald Trump, who was elected in part because of his promise to make life more affordable for Americans. The FT’s Myles McCormick and Sam Fleming explain what consequences the war against Iran will have for the global economy.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Donald Trump’s Iran war tests US voters’ patience as petrol prices rise

Which leading economies will pay the biggest price for the Iran war?

Swamp Notes is hosted by Marc Filippino and produced by Henry Larson. This week’s show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz and the FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts.

CREDIT: Reuters, Associated Press, CNBC, CNN

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump’s ‘war of whim’ in Iran

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 20:26:34 GMT

US President Donald Trump started a war with Iran last week. The American and Israeli bombing campaign has killed more than a thousand people, according to Iranian state media. Iran’s retaliatory strikes threaten to cut off all energy exports in the coming days.The FT’s US national editor Edward Luce and US foreign affairs correspondent Abigail Hauslohner explain how that war is changing Washington and America’s allies.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Donald Trump has no ‘phase two’ plan for Iran war, says US senator

Donald Trump’s dangerous ‘war of whim’

US holds talks with Iranian Kurdish militants over anti-regime operations

Swamp Notes is produced by Henry Larson. This week’s show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz and the FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts.

CREDIT: CBC, US Central Command on X

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What the State of the Union means for the US midterm elections

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 20:28:17 GMT

On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump gave what is likely to be his most viewed remarks of the year. He spent little time on his most controversial decisions, instead focusing on economic issues and immigration that have appealed to voters in the past. But, at a point when Trump’s approval ratings are dropping, what does his speech mean for the looming midterm elections? The FT’s deputy Washington bureau chief Lauren Fedor and Jon McHenry, vice-president of the polling firm North Star Opinion Research, explain.

Mentioned in this podcast:

State of the Union as it happened

Swamp Notes is produced by Henry Larson. This week’s show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz and the FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts.

CREDIT: Roll Call

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Maha’s big reversal and a Scotus decision on tariffs

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 20:07:25 GMT

The US Food and Drug Administration last week said it would not consider a new flu vaccine for public distribution. But a few days later, it changed course. Is that reversal part of a larger change in the Trump administration’s efforts to ‘Make America Healthy Again’? The FT’s US Pharmaceuticals Correspondent Patrick Temple-West and US Managing Editor Brooke Masters explain. Plus, the FT’s James Politi decodes the Supreme Court’s decision on Trump’s sweeping tariffs.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Trump administration reverses move to block Moderna flu vaccine trial

White House launches TrumpRx as drug companies warn of sales hit

Swamp Notes is hosted by Marc Filippino and produced by Henry Larson. We had help this week from Lauren Fedor and Maneula Saragosa. This week’s show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz and the FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.

The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts.

CREDIT: MS NOW, CNN, Forbes, @SecKennedy on X, Associated Press

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump’s starring role in the Warner Bros fight

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 19:09:57 GMT

Netflix and Paramount, two large American media companies, are fighting to purchase Warner Bros Discovery. Now, US President Donald Trump and the Department of Justice are getting involved. The FT’s Los Angeles bureau chief Christopher Grimes and US deals and activism correspondent Oliver Barnes explain the president’s connections to both potential buyers and the legal scrutiny facing those companies.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Activist investor takes aim at Warner Bros deal with Netflix

Donald Trump’s top antitrust enforcer Gail Slater pushed out as turf war deepens

Swamp Notes was hosted this week by Sonja Hutson and is produced by Henry Larson. This week’s show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz and the FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.

The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts.

CREDIT: KARE, FOX Business, CBS News

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The political cost of America’s surging electricity bills

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 20:39:54 GMT

US President Donald Trump gathered a robust coalition of voters in 2024, in part, on the promise of slashing electricity bills. But now, more than a year after his return to the Oval Office, prices are on the rise. The FT’s US energy reporter Martha Muir and US economic correspondent Myles McCormick examine why those costs are ticking up and how that might affect November’s midterm elections.

Mentioned in this podcast:

The political cost of America’s surging electricity bills

The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts.

CREDIT: NBC News, NBC 4

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump’s immigration climbdown. Plus, a new Fed chair?

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 20:37:49 GMT

A 37-year-old demonstrator, Alex Pretti, was killed by border patrol agents in Minnesota last week. His death sparked international outrage. It also prompted the Trump administration to back down from its most strenuous immigration enforcement positions. The FT’s Washington bureau chief James Politi and deputy Washington bureau chief Lauren Fedor look ahead at what the administration’s pivot could mean for deportations and the president’s remaining time in office. Plus, the FT’s US economics editor Claire Jones breaks down Trump’s pick for chair of the Federal Reserve.

Mentioned in this podcast:

US plans ICE drawdown in Minnesota after outcry over immigration raids

How Donald Trump was forced to back off his harshest immigration tactics

Donald Trump nominates Kevin Warsh as Federal Reserve chair

The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts.

CREDIT: The White House, NBC News, Roll Call, Forbes

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Bethlehem Project: America's affordability squeeze

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMT

An affordability crisis is sweeping through the US. High prices of food, rents and healthcare are forcing Americans to cut back on necessities. This comes as President Donald Trump’s administration is curbing government support. Sonja Hutson visits Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and the surrounding Lehigh Valley, and learns how residents are trying to make ends meet.

Mentioned in this podcast:

‘Scraping for crumbs’: Americans squeezed by affordability crisis

Inside Trump’s America

Swamp Notes: The Bethlehem Project is produced by Sonja Hutson and Henry Larson, and edited by Marc Filippino. The show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Our Executive Producer is Topher Forhecz. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s Global Head of Audio. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump’s bid to remake the world order

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 19:31:50 GMT

Before his trip to Davos this week, Donald Trump threatened tariffs, and even hinted at using military force, to take over Greenland. The US president’s fixation ripped open a diplomatic wound that has been growing steadily over the past year. The Council on Foreign Relations' Benn Steil and the FT’s US foreign affairs correspondent Abigail Hauslohner explain how this week may have reshaped the western world permanently.

Mentioned in this podcast:

‘Waiting for the king’: how Trump dominated Davos

Broad mandate of Trump’s Board of Peace sets it up for rivalry with UN

Read Benn’s column in The Dispatch

Credit: The World Economic Forum, Roll Call

Swamp Notes is hosted by Marc Filippino and produced by Henry Larson. This week’s show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Help from Lauren Fedor The FT’s acting co head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can states stop Trump's immigration raids?

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 21:13:41 GMT

State governments and many activists are pushing back on the federal government’s mass immigration raids. In response, US President Donald Trump threatened to use the Insurrection Act to quell protests in Minneapolis. The FT’s US national correspondent Guy Chazan and US legal correspondent Stefania Palma describe how this tension is changing the relationship between local leaders and the Trump administration.

Mentioned in this podcast:

‘Anger, grief and tear gas:’ outrage in Minnesota after ICE shooting

Donald Trump threatens to deploy military to Minnesota after ICE shooting

The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts.

CREDIT: Alpha News, Fox News

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why Trump wants to ‘run’ other countries

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 20:01:36 GMT

After a military operation to capture Venezuela's leader, the Trump administration is seeking influence over other regions across the western hemisphere. The FT’s national editor Edward Luce and US-Europe foreign affairs correspondent Amy Mackinnon share their insights on how Trump and his cabinet have come to embrace the idea of foreign intervention.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Trump really wants Greenland

US says using military is among ‘options’ to acquire Greenland

How the US’s audacious operation to capture Nicolás Maduro unfolded

Swamp Notes is hosted by Marc Filippino and produced by Henry Larson. This week’s show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts.

CREDIT: Roll Call, CNN, Democracy Now!

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The biggest predictions in politics next year

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 17:39:01 GMT

The FT’s Lauren Fedor and Derek Brower look back on the moments that stood out in 2025 and offer their predictions for what’s to come in the new year.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Forecasting the world in 2026

Email Marc with your questions (Marc.Filippino@FT.com)

Swamp Notes is hosted by Marc Filippino and produced by Henry Larson. This week’s show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. The FT’s acting co head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts.

CREDIT: Zohran Mamdani for NYC, CBS News, ABC News, The joint congressional committee on inaugural ceremonies, CNBC

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Political Fix: Quizmas special

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 05:00:00 GMT

This is an episode of Political Fix, the FT weekly podcast that takes you into the corridors of Westminster to unwrap, analyse and debate British politics with a regular panel of FT correspondents.

Can you name all the Labour frontbenchers who resigned or were sacked during the past year? Why was Peter Mandelson delayed from returning to the UK after being sacked as US ambassador? And who will be crowned Political Fix’s Wonk-in-Chief? Find out as host George Parker puts the entire podcast panel - Miranda Green, Stephen Bush, Robert Shrimsley, Jim Pickard and Anna Gross - through their paces in this big, fat, fiendishly difficult end-of-year quiz. The panellists also highlight their most memorable moment of 2025 and unveil their wildest predictions for the year ahead. Plus, discover who scooped all the chocolate coins in the studio to win the annual Political Fix stockpicks portfolio prize.

This is a repeat of an episode published on Political Fix, a sister podcast of FT News Briefing, on December 19, 2025

To listen and subscribe to more episodes, find Political Fix on your favourite platform by clicking here!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Congress’ healthcare fight carries big consequences

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 20:18:48 GMT

Four Republican members of the US House of Representatives broke ranks and supported Democrats this week to force a vote on healthcare spending. The FT’s US national correspondent Guy Chazan and deputy Washington bureau chief Lauren Fedor explain the ticking clock Congress is facing down on health insurance, and what will happen to Americans if prices increase dramatically.

Mentioned in this podcast:

‘A full-blown crisis’: Americans brace for a surge in healthcare costs

US healthcare costs set to leap as senators fail to reach deal

Email Marc with your questions (Marc.Filippino@FT.com)

Swamp Notes is hosted by Marc Filippino, and produced by Henry Larson. This week’s show was mixed by Kelly Garry. The FT’s acting co head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts.

CREDIT: CBS News, NBC News Chicago

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Bethlehem Project: Being young in Trump’s America

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 05:00:00 GMT

High school is a time of massive change in any teenager’s life. But students today are going through this transition period at a time when the US is more polarized, there's a lot of economic anxiety and teens are far more plugged into social media than ever before. Host Sonja Hutson and FT data reporter Ian Hodgson went to a high school in Bethlehem to get a sense of what it's like growing up in Donald Trump's America.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Anxious and disillusioned: being young in Trump’s America

Inside Trump’s America

Swamp Notes: The Bethlehem Project is produced by Sonja Hutson and edited by Marc Filippino. The show was mixed by Breen Turner. The FT’s acting co head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US uses private data to track immigrants

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 20:26:32 GMT

A new FT investigation maps out the web of data brokers, private companies and government agencies that federal agents are using to help with their mass deportations. The FT’s Peter Andringa and Stefania Palma explain how corporate entities have created a surveillance network that can track immigrants across the country.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Trump’s immigration data dragnet

US criminal immigration cases overtake drug and fraud prosecutions

Email Marc with your questions (Marc.Filippino@FT.com)

Swamp Notes is produced by Henry Larson. This week’s show was mixed by Kelly Garry. The FT’s acting co head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts.

CREDIT: CBS News

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump’s plan to give babies money

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 18:35:14 GMT

When Congress passed Trump’s tax and spending bill this year, it included a provision that would create investment accounts for recently born children. Now, at least two billionaires want to chip in to the programme as well. The FT’s Brooke Masters and Alex Rogers detail how this plan works, and why some Republicans are going all in on a government entitlement programme.

Correction: This podcast was updated from its original version. The original podcast mischaracterized Australia's superannuation programme. We said individual participation is mandatory and the government puts money into accounts. In fact, employers are required to participate, and the government organizes it. That portion of the conversation has been removed.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Check out FT Globetrotter’s Washington D.C. travel guide

Michael and Susan Dell pledge $6.25bn to help fund ‘Trump Accounts’ for children

Republicans propose $1,000 ‘Trump account’ for American babies

Email Marc with your questions (Marc.Filippino@FT.com)

Swamp Notes is produced by Henry Larson. This week’s show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. We had help this week from Lauren Fedor. The FT’s acting co head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts.

CREDIT: Roll Call

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is the US economy really K-shaped?

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 14:00:00 GMT

Imagine a graph with one line going up over time. Below it, another line does just the opposite. It kind of looks like the letter K. The FT’s Claire Jones and Rob Armstrong break down why people are saying that letter represents the state of the economy and what it means for the White House.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Does the K-shaped economy theory even make sense?

Email Marc with your questions (Marc.Filippino@FT.com)

Swamp Notes is hosted by Marc Filippino and produced by Henry Larson. This week’s show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. The FT’s acting co- head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts.

CREDIT: Bloomberg, PBS, CNN

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump changes tack on the Epstein files

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 19:30:57 GMT

Congress moved quickly to pass a bill asking the Department of Justice to release documents related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. It’s a move that the president was opposed to for much of the year. The FT’s Lauren Fedor and Chris Cook break down what’s changed for the White House, and what’s different about these new documents.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Donald Trump signs bill to release Jeffrey Epstein files

Jeffrey Epstein’s network: ‘Life among the lucrative and louche’

Email Marc with your questions (Marc.Filippino@FT.com)

To sign up for free to the new FT Alphaville newsletter on substack, go to ftav.substack.com

The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts.

Swamp Notes is produced by Henry Larson. This week’s show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. The FT’s acting co head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

CREDIT: FOX News, C-SPAN, NBC News, Newsweek

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coming soon from Tech Tonic: Defying death

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 16:10:23 GMT

Investors are spending billions of dollars on novel ways to extend human life through inventive treatments, therapies, and even manipulating our genes. And increasingly, it seems as though anti-ageing efforts have moved from the super rich to a mass market consumer industry. In this series, we’re covering the past, present and future of the longevity movement. We’ll be looking at where the fixation on longevity is coming from, and trying to understand the practical and ethical issues at the heart of this cutting-edge field of research.

From Silicon Valley fantasies, to Singaporean health spas, to Colombian genetic clinics and beyond, the FT’s Hannah Kuchler and Michael Peel ask whether breakthroughs in science and technology can really help us live longer, and even stop us aging altogether.

Free to read:

US ‘wellness’ industry scents opportunity to go mainstream

The quest to make young blood into a drug

This season of Tech Tonic was produced by Josh Gabert-Doyon. The senior producer is Edwin Lane. Flo Phillips is the executive producer. Sound design by Breen Turner and Samantha Giovinco. Fact checking by Simon Greaves, Lucy Baldwin and Tara Cromie. Original music by Metaphor Music. Manuela Saragosa is the FT’s acting co-head of audio.

The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Maga fractures over far-right interview

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 20:31:33 GMT

When Nick Fuentes, a white nationalist and Holocaust denier, appeared on a podcast with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, it set off a firestorm in conservative circles. The FT’s Joe Miller and Edward Luce explain how this faction on the far-right is gaining power and what it means for the future of the Republican party.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Trump’s Maga coalition fractures over far-right interview

Don’t blame the left for US antisemitism

US Department of the Treasury Final Monthly Treasury Statement Receipts and Outlays of the United States Government

Email Marc with your questions (Marc.Filippino@FT.com)

Swamp Notes is produced by Henry Larson. This week’s show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. The FT’s acting co head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Help from Lauren Fedor. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

CREDIT: The Tucker Carlson Show, The Ben Shapiro Show, Forbes, Kevin Roberts on X

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Bethlehem Project: An immigration raid divides a community

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 05:00:00 GMT

Over the next several years, the Financial Times is diving in deep on some of the US’s biggest economic and political issues, all through the lens of one city: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Bethlehem is a politically divided area in one of the most critical swing states in the country, and it encapsulates lots of different stories that American politicians are telling about the US and who it's for.

We’ll be featuring some of those stories on the Swamp Notes podcast in a special series called The Bethlehem Project. In this first episode, we explore how an immigration raid at a construction site sent a chill through the community and exposed fault lines in the debate around who belongs in the US.

Mentioned in this podcast:

‘Everyone’s at risk’: Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown reaches Bethlehem

Why the Democrats are losing post-industrial America

Inside Trump’s America

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does the Democrats’ election sweep change anything?

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 20:48:05 GMT

Democrats won the three largest races and a smattering of others on Tuesday’s off-year elections. They are the biggest electoral wins since Donald Trump took the Oval Office a year ago. The FT’s Lauren Fedor and Guy Chazan discuss which races stood out, and how each party may interpret how the results will affect other races.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Donald Trump tries to brush off election losses as Democrats hail shift in mood

The meaning of Zohran Mamdani

Email Marc your questions here (Marc.Filippino@FT.com)

Swamp Notes is produced by Henry Larson. This week’s show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. The FT’s acting co head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

CREDIT: The White House, Vivek Ramaswamy, ABC News, Electron Media

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What Trump wants from Venezuela

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 17:51:38 GMT

The US military has killed more than 60 people in attacks on boats they say are running drugs in Latin America. Its navy has moved its most powerful warship to the Caribbean. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is increasing its rhetoric against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. James Story, the former top US diplomat to Venezuela, and the FT’s Michael Stott, puzzle out what the Pentagon and Maduro may do next.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Venezuela’s creaking military prepares for US strikes

Donald Trump aims to topple Venezuela’s leader with military build-up

Email Marc your questions (Marc.Filippino@FT.com)

Swamp Notes is produced by Henry Larson. This week’s show was mixed by Samantha Giovinco. The FT’s acting co head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson and Roxanna Vigil at the Council on Foreign Relations.

CREDIT: NBC News, CBS News

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who’s benefiting from Trump’s presidency?

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 16:15:49 GMT

US President Donald Trump and his family have made at least $1bn since he was elected to serve a second term, thanks to their rapidly growing cryptocurrency empire. That’s according to an FT investigation which also found that at least 30 individuals or companies that collectively donated to the president’s causes have received benefits or advantages. The FT’s Joe Miller and Alex Rogers unpack their findings.

Mentioned in this podcast:

How dozens of Trump’s donors have benefited from his second term

How the Trump companies made $1bn from crypto

Email Marc with your questions (Marc.Filippino@FT.com)

Swamp Notes is produced by Henry Larson. We had help from Lauren Fedor. This week’s show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. The FT’s acting co head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

CREDIT: KVUE

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Stephen Miller is defining Trump’s second term

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 17:49:41 GMT

Stephen Miller has played a central part in shaping White House policy since Donald Trump’s first term as president. But with less opposition this time around from Congress or other figures inside the administration, Miller’s hardline agenda has started to come to life. The FT’s US national correspondent Guy Chazan and US national editor Ed Luce join this week’s Swamp Notes to explore what Trump’s top policy adviser might be planning next.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Stephen Miller: Donald Trump’s ‘prime minister’ executes his plan to reshape America

Stephen Miller, Trump’s implementer-in-chief

Russell Vought: the man on a ‘divine mission’ to traumatise US bureaucrats

Swamp Notes is produced by Henry Larson and Ethan Plotkin. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. Our show is mixed by Sam Giovinco. The FT’s acting co head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

CREDIT: CNN, Washington Post, Daystar

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Is Donald Trump the president of peace?

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 20:06:53 GMT

US President Donald Trump has long campaigned for the Nobel Peace Prize, and he seemed closer to that goal earlier this week when he helped broker a ceasefire in Gaza. But the Nobel Committee had other plans. So what exactly is Trump’s track record on peacemaking and what does it take to actually win the Nobel Peace Prize? Norwegian humanitarian studies professor Kristin Sandvik and the FT’s US-Middle East foreign policy correspondent Abigail Hauslohner explain.

Mentioned in this podcast:

How Trump cornered Netanyahu into signing up for peace

Donald Trump looms large over Nobel Peace Prize

Email Marc with your questions. (Marc.Filippino@FT.com)

CREDIT: NBC News, Forbes Breaking News, C-SPAN, Norwegian Nobel Committee

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Democrats draw a line in the sand with government shutdown

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 19:03:44 GMT

For the first time in nearly seven years, the US Congress was unable to come to a spending agreement in time. The government shut down. Democrats want to challenge President Donald Trump and extend healthcare subsidies. Republicans don’t want to budge. The Financial Times’ Washington bureau chief James Politi and deputy chief Lauren Fedor break down how it all went down and the position Democrats now find themselves in.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Donald Trump threatens permanent spending cuts as US shutdown continues

What happens when the US government shuts down?

Email Marc with your questions (Marc.Filippino@FT.com)

Swamp Notes is produced by Henry Larson. This week’s show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. The FT’s acting co head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

CREDIT: FOX News, Reuters, ABC News, C-SPAN

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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An FCC insider on Kimmel, TV and free speech

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 18:25:33 GMT

Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show is back on the air.The president of the US isn’t happy about it. He’s threatened to revoke licenses from broadcast networks that air negative programming about him. The former counselor to the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Gigi Sohn, and the FT’s Los Angeles bureau chief Christopher Grimes unpack what’s at stake for America’s television industry.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Inside Disney’s decision to bring back Jimmy Kimmel

Is America entering a new era of McCarthyism?

Email Marc with your questions (Marc.Filippino@FT.com)

Swamp Notes is produced by Henry Larson. This week’s show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. The FT’s acting co head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

CREDIT: Benny Johnson podcast, New York Post, Verdict with Ted Cruz

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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The future of corporate America under Trump

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 19:06:31 GMT

On Monday, Donald Trump posted on social media that he wanted US public companies to ditch quarterly reporting. It is yet another move by his administration to hand more power to corporate executives and take power away from investors. The FT's Wall Street editor Sujeet Indap and global business columnist Rana Foroohar break down the arguments for and against the president’s efforts, and what it’ll mean for businesses.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Trump’s quarterly reporting move is the wrong idea at the wrong time

Donald Trump tilts balance of power from investors to CEOs

Bonus ep: How the UK is navigating the Trump era

Email Marc with your questions (Marc.Filippino@FT.com)

Swamp Notes is produced by Henry Larson. Sam Giovinco mixed this week’s episode. Our show is mixed by Kelly Garry. The FT’s acting co- head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How the Supreme Court can change the course of Trump’s presidency

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 19:35:57 GMT

The US Supreme Court’s next term is just weeks away, and the decisions facing the court’s nine justices could define the future of President Donald Trump’s second administration. The FT’s Brooke Masters and Stefania Palma break down what makes this new era of the Supreme Court so unique and controversial.

Mentioned in this podcast:

US Supreme Court to decide how far Donald Trump’s power really goes

Will the Supreme Court stand up to Trump?

Email Marc with your questions (Marc.Filippino@FT.com)

Swamp Notes is produced by Henry Larson. This week’s show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. The FT’s acting co head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

CREDIT: FOX News, CBS News

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Bonus ep: How the UK is navigating the Trump era

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 19:22:24 GMT

US President Donald Trump is coming to the UK next week. What can we expect from his visit? And where do things stand between the US and the UK?

In this special bonus episode, our two FT political chat shows, Political Fix and Swamp Notes, team up to unpack relations between the two longtime allies. Marc Filippino, host of the Swamp Notes podcast, and US managing editor Brooke Masters are joined by Political Fix’s George Parker and Lucy Fisher to discuss. This episode was recorded on September 6 in front of a live audience at the FT Weekend Festival in London.

Mentioned in this podcast:

-Listen to the Swamp Notes podcast on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your podcasts.

-Listen to the Political Fix podcast on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts or Spotify.

Swamp Notes is produced by Henry Larson. The executive producer for Political Fix is Flo Phillips. This episode was mixed by Breen Turner. The FT’s acting co-heads of audio are Topher Forhecz and Manuela Saragosa.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can we keep trusting US economic data?

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 22:01:12 GMT

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released the latest round of jobs numbers this week. A former BLS commissioner, Erica Groshen, and the FT’s US economics correspondent Myles McCormick break down what’s inside that report and what it means for a federal agency preparing for a controversial new leader.

Mentioned in this podcast:

US adds just 22,000 jobs in August as labour market sputters

Donald Trump picks Heritage economist to head US Bureau of Labor Statistics

Email Marc with your question (Marc.Filippino@FT.com)

Swamp Notes is produced by Henry Larson. This week’s show was mixed by Alex Higgins. The FT’s acting co head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Uncle Sam to become Intel’s biggest shareholder

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 19:33:05 GMT

The Trump administration announced that it is taking a 10 per cent stake in troubled chipmaker Intel. It’s another interventionist move by the White House in less than a year since US President Donald Trump returned to office. What does it mean that the federal government is getting more involved in the free market? The FT’s Richard Waters and the American Enterprise Institute’s Michael Strain discuss.

Mentioned in this podcast:

US to take 10% stake in troubled chipmaker Intel

Why Intel investors have embraced an interventionist White House

Trump’s Intel deal is a threat to US economic liberty

Email Marc with your questions (Marc.Filippino@FT.com)

Swamp Notes is Hosted by Marc Filippino and produced by Henry Larson. Our show is mixed by Sam Giovinco. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

CREDIT: Howard Lutnick on X

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to rebuild global trade

Sat, 23 Aug 2025 04:00:00 GMT

The world trade order is being remade. US President Donald Trump has led that charge with tariffs and trade deals that have upended the past 30 years of advancement towards global free trade. If that order is going away, what should replace it? Council on Foreign Relations president Michael Froman and the FT’s senior trade writer Alan Beattie talk through one option for the future of international exchange.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Read Michael Froman’s Foreign Affairs article

No, Trump is not ushering in a new global trading order

Canada cultivates Nordic connections to offset its reliance on US trade

Email Marc with your questions (Marc.Filippino@FT.com)

Swamp Notes is produced by Henry Larson. This week’s show was mixed by Samantha Giovinco. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump opens retirement to crypto

Sat, 16 Aug 2025 04:00:00 GMT

One of the president’s most recent executive orders paved the way for American retirement accounts to invest in cryptocurrencies and private equity. It’s a seismic change for savers and investors both. The FT’s Sujeet Indap and Duke University professor Elisabeth de Fontenay break down what it means for you and for Washington.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Email Marc with your questions (Marc.Filippino@FT.com)

Donald Trump exposes US retirees to new world of risk with 401k order

Trump opens US retirement plans to crypto and private equity investments

Swamp Notes is produced by Henry Larson. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry and Kent Militzer. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The real cost of gutting USAID

Sat, 09 Aug 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Six months after the Trump administration gutted the US Agency for International Development, experts are tracking the impact of its absence. The FT’s David Pilling and the Brookings Institution’s George Ingram describe the surprising ways countries are adapting to a world with less resources for the poor, sick and starving.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Email Marc with your questions (Marc.Filippino@FT.com)

What the closure of USAID is really costing the world

USAID cuts threaten 14mn extra deaths by 2030, warns study

The shifting future of foreign aid

Swamp Notes is produced by Henry Larson. Samantha Giovinco mixed this week’s episode. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gaza crisis puts Trump at a crossroads

Sat, 02 Aug 2025 04:00:00 GMT

On a visit to the UK this week, Trump broke from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s stance on the war in Gaza. The FT’s Edward Luce and US foreign affairs correspondent Abigail Hauslohner unpack how the situation in the region became so dire, and why world leaders are pressuring Trump to act.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Has Gaza tested the limits of Donald Trump’s support for Benjamin Netanyahu?

‘Worst-case scenario’ of famine unfolding in Gaza, says global hunger monitor

The west’s complicity in Gaza

Swamp Notes is produced by Henry Larson and mixed by Samantha Giovinco. We had help from Marc Filippino. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

CREDIT: CNN, Times News, France24

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump’s case against Fed chair Powell

Sat, 26 Jul 2025 04:00:00 GMT

The US president is angry with the chair of the Federal Reserve over interest rates. He’s applying a lot of pressure on Jay Powell to lower them or leave his job. The FT’s Claire Jones and Adam Posen, president of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, break down what will happen if Trump succeeds in either of those goals.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Email Marc with your questions (Marc.Filippino@ft.com)

Donald Trump and Jay Powell spar as US president visits Federal Reserve

Why a $2.5bn refurbishment of the Federal Reserve could be Jay Powell’s undoing

Donald Trump brings war against the Fed to Jay Powell’s home turf

Swamp Notes is produced by Henry Larson and mixed by Samantha Giovinco. We get help from Lauren Fedor. The FT’s acting co head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

CREDIT: CNBC

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Is Zohran Mamdani the future of the Democratic party?

Sat, 19 Jul 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Zohran Mamdani shocked a city, and his own political party, when he soundly defeated his influential rival in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary election. Now, as the second leg of the race reveals itself, Mamdani has a chance to redefine how the party talks about its critical issues. The FT’s Rana Foroohar and the American Enterprise Institute’s Michael Strain discuss what the party can learn from its nominee and what it would mean if he won.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Email Marc with your questions (Marc.Filippino@ft.com)

New York’s Zohran Mamdani wins over some of the city’s business elite

Make America affordable again

Zohran Mamdani is wrong — of course billionaires should exist

Swamp Notes is produced by Henry Larson and mixed by Samantha Giovinco. We had help from Lauren Fedor. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

CREDIT: Zohran Mamdani For NYC, NBC News, NPR, NY1, CNBC

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Big Pharma’s big tariffs

Sat, 12 Jul 2025 04:00:00 GMT

When US President Donald Trump threatened 200 per cent tariffs on foreign-made pharmaceuticals, investors responded like it was a placebo. It’s the latest spat between drugmakers and an administration that share a complicated relationship. The FT’s Hannah Kuchler and Patrick Temple-West explain why Trump and Big Pharma aren’t getting along, and what that prescribes for the future of the industry.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Email Marc your questions (Marc.Filippino@ft.com)

Investors shrug off Donald Trump’s 200% tariff on pharma

The looming ‘patent cliff’ facing Big Pharma

Swamp Notes is produced by Henry Larson. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

CREDIT: The White House, Roll Call

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The corporate winners and losers under Trump

Sat, 05 Jul 2025 04:00:00 GMT

US President Donald Trump’s approach to the economy has left investors on edge and markets unsure how to react. But his tariffs, trade deals and Truth Social posts have left some corporations better off than others. The FT’s Derek Brower and Gregory Meyer break down who is coming out on top, and who is getting left behind.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Triumphing under Trump: the corporate winners and losers

Is Donald Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ a political curse for Republicans?

Swamp Notes is produced by Henry Larson. This week’s episode was mixed by Samantha Giovinco. The FT’s acting co head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

CREDIT: The White House, LiveNOW from Fox, Forbes

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Bolton on the Iran war that wasn’t

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 04:00:00 GMT

After more than a week of fighting between Israel and Iran, US President Donald Trump bombed the Islamic republic and then announced a ceasefire. Former national security adviser John Bolton and the FT’s chief foreign affairs commentator Gideon Rachman share their views on what America’s relationship with Iran should look like next and what will happen to the embattled regime.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Email Marc with your questions (Marc.filippino@ft.com)

How Israel inadvertently reawakened Iranian nationalism

Early intelligence suggests Iran’s uranium largely intact, European officials say

Trump’s fragile peace in the Middle East

Listen to the Rachman Review podcast

Swamp Notes is produced by Henry Larson. Kelly Garry mixed this week’s episode. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump considers war in Iran

Sat, 21 Jun 2025 04:00:00 GMT

As the conflict between Israel and Iran enters its second week, US President Donald Trump is openly considering bombing the Islamic republic. If he does, he runs the risk of angering a faction in his coalition that has long derided US military intervention overseas. The FT’s Edward Luce and Guy Chazan unpack the conservative power players and Maga influencers who now find themselves on opposite sides.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Donald Trump’s anti-war pledge tested as Israel’s attack on Iran splits Maga base

Maga’s battle with Israel for Trump’s mind

How Trump can offer Iran a way out

Swamp Notes is produced by Henry Larson and Lauren Fedor. This week’s show was mixed by Kelly Garry. The FT’s acting co head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

CREDIT: Tucker Carlson, OANN, Christian Science Monitor, Fox News

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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What a militaristic president means for democracy

Sat, 14 Jun 2025 04:00:00 GMT

US President Donald Trump deployed federal troops to quell protests in Los Angeles the same week of a massive military parade in Washington, DC. How might this change the relationship between the country and its military? James Politi, the FT’s Washington bureau chief, and Chris Mirasola, law professor at the University of Houston, break down how the administration is defending its growing comfort with displays of armed force.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Donald Trump tests limits of presidential authority by sending troops into Los Angeles

US court halts order demanding Donald Trump return control of California’s National Guard

Swamp Notes is produced by Henry Larson, Katya Kumkova and Lauren Fedor. Kelly Garry mixed this episode. The FT’s acting co head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump’s big play to save steel production

Sat, 07 Jun 2025 04:00:00 GMT

US President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on steel to 50 per cent this week. He’s also allowing Japan’s Nippon to buy the US Steel Corporation. The moves are meant to bring back manufacturing to America’s steel industry. But will they? FT senior trade writer Alan Beattie and Zehra Munir, the FT’s industrial reporter, discuss whether Trump can make good on a popular promise.

Mentioned in this podcast:

It’s always steel — tariffs provide Trump with a familiar trade weapon

Donald Trump’s US Steel gamble: Pennsylvania workers warm to Nippon tie-up

Credit: The White House YouTube channel

Swamp Notes is produced by Katya Kumkova, Henry Larson and Lauren Fedor. The FT’s acting co head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Coming soon: The Wolf-Krugman Exchange

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 10:57:12 GMT

In a special six-part series of The Economics Show, Martin Wolf, the FT’s chief economics commentator, and Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman discuss the economic events reshaping the world in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s election.

Subscribe and listen to this series on The Economics Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Episodes will also be available on the FT’s YouTube channel.

If you’d like to get in touch and ask Martin and Paul a question, please email economics.show@ft.com

Read Martin’s FT column here

Subscribe to Paul’s substack here

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Do Republicans still care about debt?

Sat, 31 May 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Republicans are often known as the party of fiscal responsibility. This week, Swamp Notes unravels the US House of Representatives’ “big, beautiful” bill and its uncertain path forward in the Senate. Edward Luce, US national editor and columnist, and James Politi, Washington bureau chief, explain what made congressional Republicans go all in on big spending, tax cuts and more debt.

Subscribe to the new Swamp Notes feed here.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Read Edward Luce’s column on the new ‘moron premium’ for Treasuries

US House passes Donald Trump’s showpiece tax bill

Swamp Notes is produced by Lauren Fedor, Katya Kumkova and Henry Larson. Topher Forhecz is the acting co-head of audio. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump’s next 100 days

Sat, 24 May 2025 04:00:00 GMT

This week, Swamp Notes goes to London for a live recording. Katie Martin, host of the Unhedged podcast, and Chris Giles, author of the FT’s Central Banks newsletter, discuss what Trump’s next few months might be like. Have markets truly recovered from the “liberation day” shock? What happens after the 90-day tariff pause is over? Our guests weigh in.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Read the latest Chris Giles on Central Banks column here

Listen to the Unhedged podcast here

Swamp Notes is produced by Katya Kumkova. Topher Forhecz is the acting co-head of audio. Special thanks to Mischa Frankl-Duvall and Pierre Nicholson.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump’s tilt to the left

Sat, 17 May 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Within the space of one week, US President Donald Trump endorsed tax increases for America’s top earners and promised to slash drug prices by up to 70 per cent. It’s a platform that echoes former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders and others on the political left. So why are we hearing it from Trump, and why now? FT’s Washington bureau chief James Politi and global business columnist Rana Foroohar are on the show to discuss.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Trump leans left in bid to revive flagging poll numbers

Why ‘Make Hollywood Great Again’ makes sense

Swamp Notes is produced by Katya Kumkova. Topher Forhecz is the acting co-head of audio. Special thanks to Sonja Hutson and Pierre Nicholson.

CREDIT: clip from Forbes

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Coming Soon: Swamp Notes

Tue, 06 May 2025 17:51:48 GMT

Introducing Swamp Notes, the FT's US politics chat show. Every Saturday, host Marc Filippino talks to reporters in Washington as well as the FT's veteran US political commentators and a cast of expert guests to explain what the latest moves in the Capitol mean for the economy, business and for people in America — and beyond. Subscribe and listen for incisive analysis, on-the-ground insights and a uniquely global perspective.

Swamp Notes launches May 17.

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